The container file must have the extension .iso. It is an exact copy, or image, of an existing file system. This image can then be written to an optical disc using a particular software program (see below). It is by booting up with this disc in the optical drive that one can run and use Puppy Linux.

After downloading the ISO file verify its integrity by checking the MD5sum. The file may have been corrupted during the download process so always verify its integrity. After verification you may then proceed to write (burn) the ISO file onto blank optical media.

To create a live disc it is recommended to use DVD+RW discs. Re-writable media has the advantage over write once media in that it can be erased and re-used hundreds of. It is essential to use high-quality blank media from manufacturers such as Taiyo Yuden and Verbatim..

For a computer to boot from a live disc the optical drive must be read before the H.D.D; therefore when the optical disc is in the optical disc drive at boot up it will load Puppy Linux from there and no where else.